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Surry-Yadkin Works, in partnership with Surry County Schools and ApprenticeshipNC - Part of the NC Community College System(ANC), hosted an Apprenticeship Celebration for Victor Hall and Wyatt Edwards Tuesday, March 26 at 4:00 p.m. The event recognized the young men’s completion of the Facility Maintenance Registered Apprenticeship Program through Surry-Yadkin Works.

The celebration began with remarks from Dr. David Shockley, President, Surry Community College, who spoke of the impact Surry-Yadkin Works’ Registered Apprenticeship and Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Programs have had, saying, “Apprenticeship is a simple solution to complex issues in education and workforce development. Surry-Yadkin Works combines education with on-the-job training…and we are witnessing the creation of a skilled workforce firsthand. Apprenticeship works. These apprentices and their accomplishments are proof of how valuable apprenticeship is in providing opportunities for our youth.”

Surry-Yadkin Works is a collaborative effort between Elkin City Schools, Mount Airy City Schools, Surry County Schools, and Yadkin County School, and Surry Community College to support the economic vitality of their region by matching students with business partners to meet the needs of the community. The collaborative’s pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs are registered with the U.S. Department of Labor through ApprenticeshipNC, the State Apprenticeship Agency.

Following Dr. Shockley’s remarks, the attendees heard from Crystal Folger-Hawks, Executive Director, Surry-Yadkin Works, and Rachel Hiatt, Director of Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeship Initiatives, Surry Community College.

Folger-Hawks spoke of the apprentices’ journeys saying, “Apprenticeship is an equalizer and it’s a means of growth, and working with Surry County Schools on this program, I just knew Victor and Wyatt would be good at this [Facility Maintenance]. I could see them, working for the school systems, working with their hands… These two young men grew so much. Surry County Schools employees embraced them and grew them as leaders on their team. They [Hall and Edwards] found a sense of belonging, and they were just amazing. They started this program as high school students, boys, and they are young men now.”

Hall and Edwards were the first pre-apprentices who transitioned into apprentices under Surry-Yadkin Works’ guidance, and their completion of the program is a huge sense of pride for Surry-Yadkin Works. Hiatt noted, “I take significant pride in the fact that these were our first two apprentices to transition from our pre-apprenticeship program. They have come out on the other side with full-time employment, wonderful experience, and a bright future ahead."

Mr. Robert Draughn and Mr. Doug Dixon of Surry County Schools, who mentored Hall and Edwards throughout their apprenticeships, offered an employer perspective on the students’ apprenticeships, noting Hall and Edwards took on every task assign to them, from cutting trees to digging holes to plumbing. They came to work determined to learn. Both Hall and Edwards were offered, and have accepted, full-time positions with Surry County Schools Maintenance Department.

To conclude the ceremony, ApprenticeshipNC (ANC) Director Chris Harrington, Ph.D.,MBA and ANC Regional Consultant Wanda Ramos-Mcpherson presented Hall and Edwards with their ApprenticeshipNC Certificates, signifying the completion of their apprenticeship programs. Dr. Travis Reeves, Superintendent, Surry County Schools, then presented them with their National Journeyworker Cards, which recognize their proficiency, skill, and competence in the facility maintenance field.

The Apprenticeship Celebration concluded with light refreshments and mingling in the Grand Hall of the Shelton-Badgett NC Center for Viticulture and Enology on Surry Community College’s campus.